PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chris John (ranked 198 p4p, 288 weight class) and Jian Zhao (ranked 26 p4p, 43 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think John might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Don't Stop Me Now. Zhao is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Dirty Harry (Schtung Chinese New Year Remix) - Gorillaz. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

John
vs
Zhao

178 cm
25
160
17 - 2 - 0

173 cm
34
156
25 - 14 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Champion Apparel
Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)

Hoarse Pills

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris John!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jian Zhao!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick lands for Zhao.
Zhao avoids the head kick by John.
John takes one to the chin there.
Zhao misses with a low kick.
John went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Zhao stuns John with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
John pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zhao is out of range and John settles back down.
Zhao connects with a solid leg kick.
Zhao gets cracked with a nice right hand there by John.
Jian Zhao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhao throws a lazy body kick
enabling John to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Jian Zhao has been cut.
Zhao scores with a nice right hand.
John displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zhao throws out the jab.
Zhao lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
John takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
John throws a hook but Zhao avoids it easily.
John tries to work over Zhao's front leg with a kick but Zhao checks it.
Zhao lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
John throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zhao.
John moves out of range of the strikes.
Zhao tries to close the distance and clinch up but John swats him away and circles back towards the center.
John lands a jab to the head.

Zhao has closed the distance and engaged John in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zhao tries to work over John's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zhao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zhao working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from John fails to land.
Zhao prevents a body shot from John.
Zhao misses with a punch on the inside.
I was talking to John's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
John working aggressively here.
Zhao tries a body shot but John blocks it.
Zhao lands a shot to the body.
John misses with a hook to the ribs.
John lands with a light punch inside.
John can't find room to land a body shot as Zhao controls the action.
Zhao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zhao pushes John back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
John lands a body punch.
Zhao doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
John misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

John escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
John scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zhao uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from John.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Zhao.
Zhao keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhao takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Zhao closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
John prevents a body shot from Zhao.
John is trying to break free.
John lands a left hand.
Zhao misses with a hook from the clinch.
John throws a punch but it's blocked by Zhao.
John throws a punch but it's blocked by Zhao.
John blocks a body shot from Zhao.
Zhao prevents John from breaking the clinch.
John manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

John escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhao throws a front kick aimed at John's knee but John avoids it well.
Zhao is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by John.
Zhao scores with a punch to the head.
Zhao with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zhao walks forward, straight into a front kick from John.
John throws a jab but it's blocked by Zhao.
Zhao tries to clinch but John moves out of range.
John looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A chopping leg kick lands by John.
Zhao throws a leg kick that misses.
John looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
John misses with a low kick.
Zhao was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
John walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhao. John does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like John wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
John just misses with a punch to the body.
John tries to bum rush Zhao with a series of wild strikes but Zhao uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zhao is looking to slow John down with leg kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
John tries to bum rush Zhao with a series of wild strikes but Zhao uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Zhao has John up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhao has a couple of punches blocked by John.
Zhao has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. John seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Zhao can turn it around.
John has a couple of punches blocked by Zhao.
Zhao prevents a body shot from John.
Zhao blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
John lands a nice uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
John doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
John misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zhao misses with a short punch on the inside.
John dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
John effectively controlling the action here.
John gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Zhao blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zhao lands with a light punch inside.
John prevents a body shot from Zhao.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jian Zhao will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jian Zhao's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

John smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
John avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zhao throws a head kick but John moves out of range.
A big left from Zhao misses.
A right-left combo lands from John.
Zhao lands a body shot.
John swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
John throws a right and a left that Zhao avoids nicely.
Zhao lands an overhand right.
John drops his hands momentarily and Zhao takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
John ducks under a wild hook from Zhao.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
John swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A leg kick checked by Zhao.

John rushes Zhao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
John working aggressively here.
John throws a punch but it's blocked by Zhao.
Zhao misses with a punch to the body.

John pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zhao lunges at John with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by John's hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from John finds it's way through Zhao's defenses.

Zhao gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zhao lands with a short shot to the head.
John misses with some punches.
John lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zhao backwards.
Chris John has scored more points in the clinch so far.

John breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
John fakes the leg kick and cracks Zhao in the body.
John takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Zhao throws a body punch but John moves out of range.
Chris John is winning the standup battle so far.
Zhao tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and John is able to avoid easily.
John stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zhao.
Nice uppercut there from Zhao.
John is looking to clinch but Zhao is avoiding it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
John doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Zhao. That's going to slow John down.
The fighters circling - Zhao throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
John throws a quick counter kick to the body but Zhao avoids it.
John defending well as Zhao loads up on a big left hand.
John half committed to a counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhao throws an uppercut from half a mile away. John sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zhao blocks a leg kick.
John scores with the left hand. Zhao knows he should have avoided that one.
Zhao loads up on a big right hand but John slips the punch.
Zhao takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
John just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
John connects with a jab.

John closes the distance and clinches.
John is working Zhao over against the cage.
Zhao lands an uppercut.
Zhao lands with a light punch inside.

John breaks the clinch.

Zhao moves into the clinch successfully.
John misses with the head strike.
Zhao doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
John blocks an uppercut.
Zhao scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by John.
A left hand lands to the body for John.
Zhao blocks an uppercut.
Zhao swings wildly with an uppercut but John uses good head movement to avoid it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zhao.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zhao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with John's elbow.
John lands with a left to the head.

John breaks from the clinch.
Zhao is looking to score with low kicks.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A chopping leg kick lands by John.
Zhao lands a leg kick that knocks John off balance momentarily.
Sloppy strikes from John. Those never looked like landing.
Zhao takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zhao throws an uppercut from half a mile away. John sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zhao connects with a good right hand that stumbles John. John circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from John does no damage.
Zhao ducks under a wild hook from John.
Zhao lands a glancing blow to the side of John's head.
Zhao misses with a low kick.
John half committed to a counter leg kick.
John swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zhao looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zhao takes a swing at John's ribcage but misses.
John moves forwards but Zhao connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zhao throws a body shot but no joy.
John jabs at Zhao's body.
John listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
John takes one to the chin there.
Zhao misses with a hook. John ducked under it nicely.
John is looking to counter punch.
John throws a body punch but Zhao moves out of range.
Zhao appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab from John misses.
John avoids the head kick by Zhao.
A big right from John misses.
John misses with a straight right.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chris John will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jian Zhao's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Zhao uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by John.
Zhao throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zhao throws a big shot that misses.
Zhao throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent John stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
John misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zhao connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zhao is looking to land body kicks.
John fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice defenses there by John.
John is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
John fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhao manages to avoid it.
John wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
John takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
John has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Zhao finds it's way round the side to connect with John's head.
Zhao on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by John. John obviously looking to wear him down.
Zhao misses with a hook. John ducked under it nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zhao cracks John with an open hand slap.
John feints and then cracks Zhao's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zhao down.
John throws a head kick but Zhao moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from John.
John throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zhao.
John throws a looping overhand right but Zhao ducks down to avoid it.
John is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
John takes one on the button.
John lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zhao backs up against the cage.
A thudding body kick lands there by Zhao!
Nice defenses there by Zhao.
John with a jab.

That has opened up Jian Zhao's cut even more.
John lands a jab.
John finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zhao blocks the body kick.
Zhao thuds his right hand into John's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhao lands a nice looking body shot.
John misses with a hook. Zhao ducked under it nicely.
John scores with a hook.

John gets a clinch.
John wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zhao has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhao misses with a punch to the body.

John breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zhao connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
John throws a quick inside leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zhao can't find room to land a body shot as John controls the action.

John breaks from the clinch.
John looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zhao.
John dodges the punch combination from Zhao.
John misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhao.
John misses with a jab, cross combination.
John lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zhao at a distance.
Zhao takes one to the chin there.
John motions for Zhao to come forward. John throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice body kick there by Zhao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhao scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Zhao stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
John throws a hook but Zhao avoids it easily.
John has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from John there as he acknowledges the shot.
Zhao avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
John throws a good cross that connects.
Zhao moves out of range of the body kick from John.
John buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zhao bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of John's head.
John wants to slow Zhao down by chopping away at his legs.
John misses with a wild body shot.
John just misses with a punch to the body.
John keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zhao.
Zhao lands with a shot to the body.
Zhao fails in his attempt to clinch.

Zhao has closed the distance and engaged John in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
John is trying to force a seperation but Zhao has the dominant position.
Zhao softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, John creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zhao has a couple of punches blocked by John.
Zhao tries a body shot but John blocks it.
Zhao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with John's elbow.
Zhao tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zhao can't find room to land a body shot as John controls the action.
Zhao misses with a body punch.
Zhao tries a body shot but John blocks it.
A shot in the inside from Zhao.
Zhao tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
John stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhao softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

John escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zhao moves out of range of the strikes.
Zhao keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chris John.
I think John has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!